Florida Community of Mindfulness upcoming events

Half-Day of Mindfulness (9 am - 12:30 pm) with David Braasch (17 Oct 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

FCM's Days of Mindfulness are offered both In-Person at the Tampa Practice Center and Online. Whether you are a new or experienced meditator, our Days of Mindfulness are an opportunity to support and deepen the practice of mindfulness and meditation, and nourish the seeds of well being, inner peace and openness in our lives.

This Half-Day of Mindfulness will be a chance for all of us to put down the busyness of our lives and to relax, refresh, and renew with the healing energy of mindfulness. The day is an opportunity to experiment with letting go of our stories and dramas about our lives and the world. Instead we will practice simply be present to, and nourished by, our actual experience in the present moment.

We encourage everyone in the Tampa Bay vicinity to experience the richness of practicing together, in-person in our Meditation Hall. Please familiarize yourself with our FCM Health Protocols and plan to arrive by 8:30 am.

If joining us online, the link to Zoom information will be provided once you register. We provide guidance to help you make the experience at home as close as possible to an experience in the Meditation Hall.

When you register indicate your choice of participation In-Person or Online. While there is no fee for participation, the traditional practice of Dana (generosity) is appreciated. Please register to receive important information about your In-Person or Online Zoom attendance.

If you have any questions please contact Rita Cathey at ritaanna727@gmail.com

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation | A Two-Week Class (24 Oct 2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

with John McHarris and Raven Dreifus-Kofron

Do you live in your thoughts about the past or worries about the future? Do your emotions often cause stress and confusion? Do you get carried away by dramas.

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation is a two-week course designed to support the practice of mindfulness, helping us develop the skills and attention to be fully present to our lives in the present moment, and to touch each moment deeply. It is intended for those new to mindfulness and meditation, as well as for those who want to review the basics and establish a more consistent daily mindfulness and meditation practice. The course includes basic instruction as well as an exploration of practical ways to bring mindfulness into daily activities.

Learning Objectives:

Systematically explore mindfulness of breathing, the body and physical sensations through sitting and walking meditation and the body scan practice.
Establish and maintain a daily meditation practice.
Practice mindful meditation to explore the emotions, thoughts, and overall awareness.
Apply mindfulness to difficult emotions and thoughts to avoid getting caught up in dramas.
Cultivate daily meditation and mindfulness practices so that mindfulness becomes an integral part of your daily life.

This two-week course will be on Saturday, October 24 & 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held in-person. The cost is $75 for both sessions. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org.

John McHarris is a Dharma Instructor with the Florida Community of Mindfulness. He has been a student of FCM's teacher Fred Eppsteiner since 2011. John completed FCM's three year Dharma Transmission Group program, and is an ordained member of the Order of Interbeing. He has Co-led various FCM offerings such as the Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation class, FCM Intensives, and Days of Mindfulness. Although based in Naples, he's also a part-time Tampa resident; in conjunction with FCM's Residency program.

Raven Dreifus-Kofron, as a seeker learning about different paths, was curious about Mindfulness and found the Florida Community of Mindfulness in 2018. She was drawn to the leadership, community, and common sense tools and skills, and joined right away. Since joining FCM, she is active helping and coordinating New Membership, Sangha Building, Teas, Dinners, Spiritual Friends groups, Thanksgiving and other selfless service opportunities. Her career included advertising, corporate communications and corporate recruitment. She has also been practicing Sadhguru’s Isha Yoga and meditation for eighteen years and loves the congruence of the messages. In addition to her practices, she enjoys time with friends, the beach, and buying and selling vintage/retro. Raven, her husband Keith, and dog Leela, live in Brandon.

Full Moon Loving Kindness and Compassion Meditation (26 Oct 2026)

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 23:30:00 GMT

At FCM we celebrate the full moon each month with an evening devoted to meditations that help us develop and cultivate the mind of kindness, friendship and compassion towards all beings. During the guided meditation, we will practice embracing ourselves and others with thoughts of unconditional kindness, compassion, and support, and then to extend those feelings with well wishes for peace, happiness and an end to suffering for everyone in the world.

It has long been part of Buddhist tradition to honor and celebrate the arrival of the full moon. Legend has it that Shakyamuni Buddha was born under a full moon, arrived at his enlightenment under a full moon, and passed into paranirvana under a full moon. In Zen the full moon reminds us of our Buddha nature or our essential wholeness and completeness.

Our Full Moon Loving Kindness and Compassion evening will be from 7:30 – 8:45 pm. The evening will include guided loving kindness and compassion meditations, a short talk, and recitation of the Metta (Lovingkindness) Sutra and/or other music and altruistic readings.

We encourage everyone in the Tampa Bay vicinity to experience the richness of practicing together, in-person in our Meditation Hall. There is no need to register ahead of time. Please familiarize yourself with our FCM Health Protocols and plan to arrive by 7:15 pm.

If joining us online, the link to Zoom is below. The event is suitable for both beginners and experienced meditators. There is no formal advance registration; simply join us online on the Sangha Line shortly before 7:30 pm.

Zoom Links for FCM Sangha Line
Video Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3296243465?pwd=bUo1aFVQblhhbUFpZmZTci9EK0daZz09

Dial-In # 1-646-558-8656
Meeting ID# 329 624 3465

Fall Nature Walk at Boyd Hill! (31 Oct 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Celebrate autumn in Florida with an easy morning walk through the 245-acre Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. This walk is open to everyone! Fall is wildflower season, so we’ll explore the trails with the hope of spotting some seasonal blooms. Along the way, we'll enjoy the preserve's diverse habitats like pine flatwoods and sand pine scrub and keep an eye out for resident wildlife like gopher tortoises, native birds, and alligators.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve 1101 Country Club Way South, St. Petersburg, FL 33705

We will meet at 9:00 a.m. sharp in front of the Visitor Center near the parking lot. The walk will last roughly 1.5 to 2 hours on easy, flat terrain.

Admission & Parking: There is plenty of free parking, but please note the preserve's daily entry fee: $3 for adults, $1.50 for kids ages 3–17, and free for kids under 3. Bring water, comfortable walking shoes, and your curiosity!

Huayan Meditations on Interdependence: Fazang's Exhaustion of Delusion and Returning to the Source | A Five-Day Retreat (03 Nov 2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 22:00:00 GMT

With Guo Gu

Dates: November 3 - 8
Retreat Application Deadline: October 19 for in-person | October 25 for online
Suitability

Experienced practitioners who have some familiarity with Chan/Zen Buddhism.

Please note that your retreat application does NOT guarantee acceptance into the retreat. Participants will be notified of acceptance by October 21.

Description

What changes when we begin to experience our lives as inseparable from the world around us? How might this understanding soften our sense of isolation, loosen fixed ideas about ourselves and others, and deepen our capacity for compassion?

Join Chan teacher Guo Gu for a five-day retreat exploring the profound teachings of Huayan Buddhism and the nature of interdependence. This important Chinese Mahāyāna tradition has deeply influenced Chan/Zen Buddhism and helped shape Thich Nhat Hanh’s contemporary teaching of “interbeing.”

Huayan offers a rich vision of reality in which all things arise in relationship, each inseparable from the whole. Its teachings invite us to explore interdependence not simply as an idea, but as a way of understanding and experiencing our lives.

Although Huayan has played a central role in the development of East Asian Buddhism, its teachings remain relatively unfamiliar to many Western practitioners. Terms such as “interconnection” and “interbeing” have become widely used in Western Buddhist communities and popular culture, yet their roots in Huayan philosophy often receive little attention. This retreat offers an opportunity to explore those roots and discover their relevance to our practice and daily lives.

During the retreat, Guo Gu will provide a newly translated Huayan source text to guide an exploration of this rich teaching of interdependence.

Retreat Leader

Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) is the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center, the founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief, and a professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions at Florida State University. He studied under the late Master Sheng Yen for over 30 years, nine of which as his attendant monk and most senior and closest disciple. He is the author of The Essence of Chan(2012),Passing Through the Gateless Barrier(2016), and Silent Illumination(2021).

Fees

The fees are $450 for overnighters, $350 for commuters and $175 for online. The registration fee will be fully refunded to those not admitted to the retreat.

FCM aspires to support the retreat experience for all who are on this path, and thus retreat scholarships are available and encouraged if it would support your participation. Please click here to see FCM ’s Retreat Scholarship Policy and for an application, which needs to be submitted prior to the registration deadline for this retreat.

The Retreat Manager will be sending additional information to registrants closer to the retreat start date.

Retreat Logistics

The retreat will begin with orientation and dinner at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, November 3 and end at 12:00 noon on Sunday, November 8. There will be a group photo after that, as well as lunch offered at 12:30 for those that wish to attend.

Please note:

Application Deadline: October 19 for in-person; October 25 for online.

Acceptance & Instructions: In-person applicants will receive an acceptance letter by October 21 with retreat preparation information. Online participants will receive instructions by October 28.

Payment Deadline: The full fee for in-person participants is due by October 23 to secure your spot. After October 19, unconfirmed spots will be offered to other applicants. The online retreat fee is due by October 25.

Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.

If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.

New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page.

The teachings are offered in the Buddhist tradition of Dana, wherein the teachers freely give of themselves to the students out of gratitude for what they ’ve received from their teachers and a desire to be of service. The student’s response is also based on Dana, i.e., generosity that naturally flows from a sense of appreciation of the value of Dharma and gratitude to the living lineage.

Questions?
Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.

Death Café (04 Nov 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Please note: FCM Members can access the Death Cafe web page and the Zoom links by clicking here.

Awareness of death and its inevitability is a key part of our Buddhist practice and yet the awareness often fades into the background with our busy lives. Death Cafes at FCM will be monthly drop-in opportunities to talk with other FCM members about death and dying. They will be held on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm via Zoom.

Participating in Death Cafes will help members deepen their personal awareness of death, normalize conversations about death within our community, and make it easier to talk with our families and friends about this “elephant in the living room” fact of life.

Through deep sharing and listening and open ended discussion, we will be able to reflect on the subjects of impermanence and death, and talk about whatever is on our minds, including our concerns, fears, questions and insights surrounding the topic of end of life.

Death Cafes have become a widespread phenomena in Europe, America and Australia. Based on the work of Bernard Crettaz, a Swiss sociologist and anthropologist, and championed by Jon Underwood in England, the basic idea of Death Cafes is that it is extremely valuable to simply talk about death. One of our members, Marilyn Warlick will be the FCM Death Cafe facilitator.

The group will meet the first Wednesday of each month on Zoom. You can drop-in to a Death Cafe for a one time experience or plan to come each month to talk about the important topic of death and dying. Please note that the group gatherings are intended as discussion groups rather than as grief support or counseling sessions. Please join us!

If you have any questions, please contact Marilyn at marilynruth21@gmail.com.

CANCELLED - Day of Mindfulness (9 am - 4 pm) with Fred Eppsteiner (07 Nov 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Cancelled due to retreat.

FCM's Days of Mindfulness are offered both In-Person at the Tampa Practice Center and Online. Whether you are a new or experienced meditator, our Days of Mindfulness are an opportunity to support and deepen the practice of mindfulness and meditation, and nourish the seeds of well being, inner peace and openness in our lives.

The day will be a chance for all of us to put down the busyness of our lives and to relax, refresh, and renew with the healing energy of mindfulness. The day is an opportunity to experiment with letting go of our stories and dramas about our lives and the world. Instead we will practice simply be present to, and nourished by, our actual experience in the present moment. The theme of this Day of Mindfulness with Fred will be Emotional Healing and Transformation.

We encourage everyone in the Tampa Bay vicinity to experience the richness of practicing together, in-person in our Meditation Hall. Please familiarize yourself with our FCM Health Protocols and plan to arrive by 8:30 am. Please bring your own vegetarian lunch. Water and tea will be provided.

If joining us online, the link to Zoom information will be provided once you register. We provide guidance to help you make the experience at home as close as possible to an experience in the Meditation Hall.

When you register indicate your choice of participation In-Person or Online. While there is no fee for participation, the traditional practice of Dana (generosity) is appreciated. Please register to receive important information about your In-Person or Online Zoom attendance.

If you have any questions please contact Rita Cathey at ritaanna727@gmail.com.

The Miracle of Mindfulness | A Weekend Retreat (13 Nov 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 22:00:00 GMT

With Bill MacMillen and John McHarris

Dates: November 13 - 15, 2026
Retreat Application Deadline: October 19

Suitability

This retreat will be beneficial for both newcomers to meditation and more experienced mindfulness practitioners with an interest in living with more ease in the present moment.

Description

In our modern world, we have countless ways to stay busy, informed, entertained, and otherwise distracted from the moment we wake up until we go to bed at night. We can easily spend our entire day completely disconnected from our actual experience and unaware of what thoughts and mind-states we are cultivating throughout our busy days. If we do have a moment to stop, we may find that we feel uneasy, agitated, bored, anxious, stressed, in despair, or otherwise uncomfortable in our bodies and our minds.

Fortunately, as so many people throughout the world are discovering, there is another way. Through what the beloved Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh called, “The Miracle of Mindfulness,” we can learn how to be at ease in the present moment. We can learn to use our minds in a way that nourishes our well-being and helps us to feel whole again. Through cultivating mindfulness of the body, breath, and mind, we can learn to develop peace within ourselves and to enjoy the simple experience of being alive.

In this two-day Introductory Retreat, participants will learn mindfulness and meditation practices that calm and nourish the body and mind. There will be both formal instruction as well as “off-the-cushion” practice in areas such as walking, eating, mindful movements and work meditation. There will be periods of Q&A and deep sharing within a setting that is mostly silent, offering participants the opportunity to retreat from digital devices and other distractions that so often clutter our minds and cover the natural spaciousness that lies beneath the “noise.”

This will be a silent retreat. The silence affords us the opportunity to deepen our meditative experience while absorbing the experiential meaning of the teachings and practices presented.

Retreat Leaders

Bill Mac Millen has been a Dharma practitioner with the Florida Community of Mindfulness and a student of FCM's teacher Fred Eppsteiner since 2013; in 2018 he completed the three year Dharma Transmission training taught by Fred. Bill was ordained as a member of the Order of Interbeing at Thich Nhat Hahn’s Magnolia Grove monastery in 2019. Aspiring to be of service to the community, he is on the Leadership Council overseeing the area of Center Care and also teaches and facilitates various classes and Intensive study programs offered by FCM.

John McHarris is a Dharma Instructor with the Florida Community of Mindfulness. He has been a student of FCM's teacher Fred Eppsteiner since 2011. John completed FCM's three year Dharma Transmission Group program, and is an ordained member of the Order of Interbeing. He has Co-led various FCM offerings such as the Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation class, FCM Intensives, and Days of Mindfulness. John is the current Chair of FCM's Board of Directors. Although based in Naples, he's also a part-time Tampa resident in conjunction with FCM's Residency program.

Fees

The fee for in-person participation is $180 for overnighters and $140 for commuters.

Retreat Scholarships are available; please click to see FCM’s Retreat Scholarship Policy and for an Application, which needs to be submitted prior to the registration deadline for this retreat.

Retreat Logistics

This retreat is in-person only (either staying overnight or as a commuter) participation at FCM’s Tampa Center BEGINNING AT 5 P.M. on Friday, November 13 and ends after lunch on Sunday at 4:00 pm, November 15. Participation is open to both FCM members and non-members.

Please note:

The deadline for registration for this retreat is October 19.

We will send a retreat acceptance letter by October 22 with additional information to help you prepare for retreat.

The full fee will then be due by October 26, otherwise the spot will be given to another applicant.

Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.

If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.

New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page.

The teachings are offered in the Buddhist tradition of Dana, wherein the teachers freely give of themselves to the students out of gratitude for what they’ve received from their teachers and a desire to be of service. The student’s response is also based on Dana, i.e. generosity that naturally flows from a sense of appreciation of the value of Dharma and gratitude to the living lineage. All retreat dana for this retreat will go towards supporting future programs at the FCM center.

Questions?
For more information, please contact Bill at bmacm21@gmail.com. Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.

Selfless Service Work Morning (21 Nov 2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

All are invited to join in community and selfless service this Saturday, November 21, as we come together to continue to cultivate a place of peace and beauty for the benefit of all beings!

We will meet at 8:30 am under the pergola located behind the Meditation Hall to begin the day; if you cannot be there at 8:30 am or need to leave before we end for the day at 11:30 am please do not let that keep you from attending – any amount of service is appreciated!

Please wear work clothes and closed toe shoes and bring work gloves if you have them. Snacks and water will be provided.

We look forward to being with you and getting to know one another in an informal and friendly setting!

Please familiarize yourself with our FCM Health Protocols.

Many thanks,

The Center Care Team

Full Moon Loving Kindness and Compassion Meditation (24 Nov 2026)

Wed, 25 Nov 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Zoom Links for FCM Sangha Line
Video Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3296243465?pwd=bUo1aFVQblhhbUFpZmZTci9EK0daZz09

Dial-In # 1-646-558-8656
Meeting ID# 329 624 3465

Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck Dinner (26 Nov 2026)

Thu, 26 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Save the Date!

Lojong | A Three-Day Retreat (03 Dec 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 22:00:00 GMT

With Fred Eppsteiner

Dates: December 3 - 6
Retreat Application Deadline: November 5 for in-person | November 25 for online
Suitability

This retreat marks the conclusion of FCM’s one-year Lojong Intensive and is offered especially for the participants who have taken part in the program. Its theme and teachings are relevant for anyone, and members and nonmembers who did not participate in the Intensive are welcome to join.

All participants must have previously attended a retreat with FCM or another Buddhist group. Those new to retreats are encouraged to begin with one of FCM’s weekend retreats, such as the *Miracle of Mindfulness*.

Fred strongly encourages in-person participation. To accommodate participants who live outside the Tampa Bay area, online participation is also available. Online participants must keep their cameras on throughout all practice sessions and attend every session. Please apply to participate online only if you can meet these commitments.

For those applying to attend in person, please understand that submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by November 10.

Description

This three-day retreat explores several key transformative teachings of The Seven Points of Mind Training, a classic Buddhist text offering practical guidance for awakening in everyday life. These concise slogans show us how—even amid uncertainty and difficulty—we can retrain the mind to cultivate loving-kindness, compassion, and wisdom in all circumstances.

Together, we will practice deeply with pith verses that emphasize how to bring wisdom and compassion into all parts of our lives; key guidelines for putting these teachings into practice; and criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of our practice. Through meditation, guided reflection, and the container of noble silence, this retreat invites us to embody an enlightened attitude in the midst of daily life.

Fred will present these teachings and practices with clarity, simplicity, and concreteness so that all participants can readily embrace them as a daily practice. The silence of retreat affords us the opportunity to deepen our meditative experience while absorbing the experiential meaning of the teachings and practices being presented.

Retreat Leader

Fred Eppsteiner has been a student of the psychology of Buddhist meditation for over 50 years and practiced as a psychotherapist for more than 30 years. He has trained extensively in Buddhist meditative traditions in the U.S. and Asia. He received permission to teach from Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and is the editor of two books: The Path of Compassion and Interbeing. He is the founding teacher of the Florida Community of Mindfulness.

Fees

The fees are $270 for overnighters, $210 for commuters and $105 for online. The registration fee will be fully refunded to those not admitted to the retreat.

The Retreat Manager will be sending additional information to registrants closer to the retreat start date.

Retreat Logistics

The retreat will begin with orientation and dinner at 5:00 pm for in-person on Thursday, December 3 and end after lunch on Sunday, December 6. For online the retreat will begin at 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 3 and end at 12:00 noon on Sunday, December 6.

Please note:

Application Deadline: November 5 for in-person; November 25 for online.

Acceptance & Instructions: In-person applicants will receive an acceptance letter by November 10 with retreat preparation information. Online participants will receive instructions by November 28.

Payment Deadline: The full fee for in-person participants is due by November 16 to secure your spot. After November 16, unconfirmed spots will be offered to other applicants. The online retreat fee is due by November 25.

Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.

If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.

New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page.

The teachings are offered in the Buddhist tradition of Dana, wherein the teachers freely give of themselves to the students out of gratitude for what they ’ve received from their teachers and a desire to be of service. The student’s response is also based on Dana, i.e., generosity that naturally flows from a sense of appreciation of the value of Dharma and gratitude to the living lineage.

Questions?
Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.

FCM Cafe Series (11 Dec 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Please join us to deepen your connection with the community as we enjoy music, socializing and light refreshments for the next installment of our FCM Cafe Series.

The Cafe events are casual, social gatherings where members and non-members can connect and get to know one another in a relaxed setting. There is no need to register and there is no formal agenda for the evening. Just stop by, unwind, and enjoy good company!

The final FCM Café of 2026 will be an Open Mic Night! Bring a song, poem, story, comedy routine, juggling act, or any other talent you’d like to share. We look forward to an evening of creativity, connection, and fun!

For more information, contact Peggy at peggyfcm6501@gmail.com.

Selfless Service Work Morning (12 Dec 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 13:30:00 GMT

All are invited to join in community and selfless service this Saturday, December 12, as we come together to continue to cultivate a place of peace and beauty for the benefit of all beings!

Please wear work clothes and closed toe shoes and bring work gloves if you have them. Snacks and water will be provided.

We look forward to being with you and getting to know one another in an informal and friendly setting!

Please familiarize yourself with our FCM Health Protocols.

Many thanks,

The Center Care Team

Cookies & Caroling Event (24 Dec 2026)

Thu, 24 Dec 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Save the Date!

Opening the Heart: A Loving Kindness and Qigong Retreat (26 Mar 2027)

Fri, 26 Mar 2027 21:00:00 GMT

With Angie Parrish and David Braasch

Dates: March 26 - 28, 2027
Retreat Application Deadline: February 26
Suitability

This retreat will be beneficial for both newcomers to meditation and more experienced mindfulness practitioners with an interest in living with more equanimity, open-heartedness and compassion.

Please note that your retreat application does NOT guarantee acceptance into the retreat. Participants will be notified of acceptance by March 2.

Description

The Brahmaviharas, also known as the Four Immeasurables, are four natural, beautiful qualities of heart that - when touched more deeply - open us to experiencing our interconnection with all of life: ourselves, others, and the world around us. These qualities, which include loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, are naturally present in our minds but are often covered over by fear and other emotions that cause us to wall off our hearts.

Our weekend retreat will focus on practices that will help us to rediscover these beautiful qualities, weaving together teachings on loving kindness with qigong, aligning body, breath, and movement with a loving and open heart. Using guided practices to bring mindfulness of body, heart and mind to both movement and stillness, we will explore how to meet life with equanimity, open-heartedness and compassion, and to work skillfully with obstacles that get in our way.

This will be a silent retreat. The silence affords us the opportunity to deepen our meditative experience while absorbing the experiential meaning of the teachings and practices presented.

Retreat Leaders

Angie Parrish has been a student of Buddhism and mindfulness for over 20 years. She is a Dharma Instructor with FCM, having been given permission by FCM’s teacher Fred Eppsteiner to share the Buddha’s teachings with the sangha. She is also a Qualified Teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and is a frequent teacher of classes and retreats at FCM.

David Braasch has been a student of mindfulness and meditation at the Florida Community of Mindfulness since 2015, where he has taught Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation, Buddhism: The Basics, and Mindfulness for Educators. He has been a student of Tai Chi, Aikido, and is a certified Qigong teacher under Holden Qigong of Santa Cruz, CA.

Fees

Retreat Logistics

This retreat is in-person only (either staying overnight or as a commuter) participation at FCM’s Tampa Center. The retreat will begin with orientation at 5:00 pm on Friday, March 26 and ends after lunch on Sunday at 4:00 pm, March 28. Participation is open to both FCM members and non-members.

Please note:

The deadline for applying for this retreat is February 26.

We will send a retreat acceptance letter by March 2 with additional information to help you prepare for retreat.

The full fee will then be due by March 8, otherwise the spot will be given to another applicant.

Please click here to read FCM's Retreat Cancellation Policy.

If you are not familiar with our campus, you may enjoy this short video tour.

New to retreating with FCM? Please visit our FAQs page.

The teachings are offered in the Buddhist tradition of Dana, wherein the teachers freely give of themselves to the students out of gratitude for what they’ve received from their teachers and a desire to be of service. The student’s response is also based on Dana, i.e. generosity that naturally flows from a sense of appreciation of the value of Dharma and gratitude to the living lineage. All retreat dana for this retreat will go towards supporting future programs at the FCM center.

Questions?
For more information, please contact Angie at parrish26@gmail.com. Please contact Rita at ritaanna727@gmail.com for any logistical questions.

[Self-Paced] The Four Thoughts That Turn The Mind Toward Dharma | Enroll Anytime (31 Dec 2099)

Thu, 31 Dec 2099 14:00:00 GMT

Dates
This is a Self-Paced Course for members of FCM—Enroll Anytime and Complete on Your Schedule
Suitability
Members at any stage of practice, from beginner to more experienced, who wish to establish a strong foundation of "Right View" for practicing on the Buddhist path. If you are not a member, joining is easy! Click here for more information.

Description

The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind Toward Dharma - Precious Human Life, Impermanence, Defects of Samsara, and Cause and Effect - are an essential foundational teaching in Buddhist practice. Without a deep understanding and integration of these teachings, we will not build the strong foundation needed to support our continued development on the spiritual path.

In this five-module course, our study and contemplation of the Four Thoughts will guide us in turning away from the distractions of samsara—the endless cycle of suffering—and toward the path of genuine liberation. When understood deeply and practiced sincerely, these reflections have the power to illuminate the mind with wisdom, dissolving the delusions and misunderstandings that give rise to suffering.

This 5-part, self-guided, pre-recorded audio course will help you to::

Gain both an intellectual understanding of the Four Thoughts and a heartfelt recognition of the nature of existence.
Learn how to reflect on these contemplations and bring them into our life experiences.
Awaken a sense of clarity and urgency about why we practice the Dharma.
Be inspired to turn our minds toward the Dharma so that we can focus on what truly matters and begin to align our lives with wisdom and compassion.

The course includes recorded talks by FCM's founding teacher Fred Eppsteiner, readings, guided meditations, reflection questions, and suggested practice opportunities. A participant Discussion Forum is also provided for sharing insights with the course mentors and other participants in the course.

This course is open to members of the Florida Community of Mindfulness (click here for more information about membership and to join). It is a Self-Paced course, conducted entirely online, with access to a Course Mentor. Total expected time to complete the course is estimated at 15-25 hours, but participants complete the course on their own schedule.
Course Instructors
Fred Eppsteiner has been a student of the psychology of Buddhist meditation for over 50 years and was a psychotherapist for more than 30 years. He has trained extensively in the Buddhist meditative traditions the U.S. and Asia. He received permission to teach from Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and is the editor of two books: The Path of Compassion and Interbeing. He is the founding teacher of the Florida Community of Mindfulness.
Fees

This course if offered on a donation-basis for FCM members. Members select an amount, if any, that they would like to offer to support future programs at FCM.

Contacts for More Information
If you have any questions about this course or whether it is appropriate for you, please e-mail us at info@floridamindfulness.org or call 813-237-0746.